This program is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Department of State youth exchange programs that empower young people and establish long-lasting ties between the United States and other countries through student exchange programs and institutional partnerships.

Human Rights Issues in the Philippines

This presentation will provide a brief overview of the human rights principles articulated by the United Nations and the Philippine Government and present the on-going state of human rights in the Philippines. This presentation is based in part on the presenter’s experience and education during her leadership and participation at the Fulbright Hays Small Group project, “Philippines: Ethno-Religious diversity & human rights in a transitioning democracy.

The overall goal of the presentation is for the participants to:

Recognize the important aspects of the Human Rights Laws in the Philippines especially the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997;

Compare human rights issues of indigenous people in the Philippines and Native Americans in the US

Commit to become a Human Rights advocate in their local community

Activities will include the following:

Participants will engage in an open dialogue about HR as they mingle using Q and A Worksheet. (e.g. Do you know the UNUDHR or UNDRIP?, Do you think religions respect Human Rights? etc.)

Participants will work in small groups to discuss the following human rights issues in the Philippines. They will also report about these issues based on their own understanding, knowledge, experience and perspectives.

Rights to ancestral domain and way of life of indigenous people

Extra-judicial killings

Desaparecido incidents (enforced disappearances)

Torture by police and military

Culture of Impunity among elite and armed forces (lack of convictions and even arrests for HR violations)